This date may be best known for the pre-show jam featuring Garcia, Weir, and Los Lobos (a large section of which is usually up on YouTube). While the Dead and the Lobos openers were waiting to soundcheck, roadies set up some mics outside, and shot vid of impromptu run-throughs of Sittin' on Top of the World [a blues take] and This Land is Your Land. Different audio copies have different lengths of what were multiple takes. There doesn't seem to be a single, common one that's complete. Notice at the beginning, Jer looks at some equip and says "How come this say Stills on it?" and the dude says "I have no idea, I got it from John Cutler." Jer jokes "That son of a bitch? He probably took it." Weir says "Let's do Candyman" and the Los Lobos guy (off camera, so unidentified) starts jokingly singing the Sammy Davis version. It just seems so hearteningly reassuring. The vids that circ cut Let the Good Times Roll and usually a take or two.

Songs from this show have appeared on 4 different official releases - one film, one video, and two albums. The 1st set and Fantasy/Hey Jude is usually up on YouTube, in iffy qual, but Tennessee, FriendOTD, and He's Gone have been officially uploaded in full qual on YouTube (SBD mix is better). This comes from the "film" that was cut for Meet-Up At The Movies 2016, so it may be officially released at some point.

This show is also known for having what may be the best Tennessee of '89. For my cabbage, July '89 is better than the Winter/Spring '90 tour. I saw the show before this but didn't do the early July shows - was still not keen on stadiums. Of course the 4th, 7th and 12th turned out to be killer shows. I drug my heels on stadium shows for another year. Gotta have principles. The Who were here about a week later - oh what could have been.

First Set. Playin' is a strong opener, during a strong tour. Uptempo/fires a stadium (see MTX or AUD). The next few are average '89 until a remarkable Tennessee. The SBD balance is goofy until after 4½ mins. Queen Jane and To Lay Me Down might also be the year's best versions. There were just 4 of the latter. The last two of the set leave 'em happy, though the SBD balance goes goofy again for Dough Knees.

Second Set. Brent uses his violin preset for Friend of the Devil - though for whatever reason he's pulled out of the mix before he's through with the 1st solo. Then during his 2nd, Bobby leaves [wireless issue], coming back for Jer's solo. It also has Mickey's pyew-pyew-pyew space gun drum. Yet it's good despite all this - not 7/18 good, but good, and another odd set opener in '89. Truckin' gets by for the casual stadium punters. Sometimes when the shuffle goes languid, He's Gone doesn't travel, but this one has a beautiful Jer solo and then goes grimy blues. Jer had been teasing Spoonful riffs, and at the end he gets some of his jones. Nice, if not a bit too sleepy. Jer's mic is somehow down during the 1st verse of Eyes, and afterward it never completely gels. Things do get hot again for the Mr. Fantasy>Hey Jude (though it's not as tight as 7/12 or 10/9). The jam out to Sunshine is nice in Sugar Mag, but the rest is loose. A solid encore sends 'em away happy.

1st Set:  B-
2nd Set: C+
Overall = 3¼ stars

Highlights:
Tennessee Jed - perfection
Queen Jane Approximately - this and To Lay Me Down may be the best versions of '89

SOURCES: The schoepsmk2_30364 is the AUD with the widest freq response. The 138306_mtx_miller is the best matrix, and worth checking. There's finally a SBD (138287_sbd_miller), though the balance is goofy in places. It's a Healey "ultramix" (i. e. used matrix mics at the board). Friend of the Devil is on the All the Years Combine bonus disc. Mighty Quinn is on Garcia Plays Dylan. Dear Mr. Fantasy>Hey Jude is on Long Strange Trip OST.

Wow. This sounds awesome. Great job as usual and many thanks for this, brings back fond memories. Any opinions I have on this show are certainly influenced by being there, but I'm pretty sure this one holds up well even for the non-attendees. Maybe not 5 stars for most folks, but I have to go with my gut. Great show to blast away the day.

Thanks for this one--sounds great and an excellent playlist! Play it loud!